Children With Autism Improve Key Thinking Skills Over Time

Reader Comments
Back to blog

My daughter is 21 yo and has both autism and aphasia. She is not like Temple Grandin, able to beat the odds because her language issues were so severe. We didn’t find the right language program for her until she was 15 years old (the Association Method at USM), which helped her figure out how to put words together in sentences.
We started RDI in 2007 and her emotional regulation and cognitive thinking have soared in real world situations, which is where they count the most. She still likes trick or treating, but this year was different. She did not wear a costume and took her “babies” (dolls) out instead. She still has a hard time with the proper greeting and thanks so we did two things to give her mental space. We started a half hour early (when there were no crowds) and we went alone. Because she had time to process, she was able to say something at every door.
Here is the “aha” moment. We came home and my husband turned on the front porch lights. We live in a neighborhood that is not popular for trick or treaters, so we don’t stock candy. We were surprised when two little girls showed up expecting candy. The only thing we could do was let them pick something from our daughter’s stash. She followed me to the kitchen and followed me to the door. She knew what I was doing and was fine with it. She watched the girls pick through her candy. They didn’t take the candy that she gives to us because of her allergies. They took the candy that she could eat! She watched them take one piece each and she did not fuss at all. That kind of flexible thinking would not have been possible before we started RDI.
http://aut2bhomeincarolina.blogspot.com

Tammy Glaser of SC 8:22AM November 02, 2010

Relationship Development Intervention (RDI) is a developmental program that educates parents. Parents establish the guided participation relationship that is broken due to ASD. Dr. Steven Gutstein, developmental psychologist and developer of RDI, believes parents should be the child's first relationship. The parent learns how to carefully guide their child and develop a feeling of confidence and empowerment. Their consultant helps the parents determine the developmental foundations that the child is missing and they begin an individualized program to help the child gain those skills. Early intervention is always best, but it is never too late to begin the journey to help your child gain dynamic thinking skills. I suggest you visit www.rdiconnect.com to learn more.

Terry Dennis RDI Consultant of TX 9:00PM October 04, 2010

Good grief. Of course autistic kids improve their thinking skills over time. All kids improve their thinking skills over time. They also grow taller and need bigger clothing. This is not news. News would be new techniques on how parents, teachers, and peers could accelerate the learning and development of any child, autistic or not.
What I would like to see is reporters reducing their bias towards the familiar over time...

Sam 2:01PM September 21, 2010

I am pleased that articles are finally surfacing that people with autism can learn. I want parents to also know that they can have a quality life in their community and in adulthood.
Our daughter’s classic autism appeared in infancy. At ten years old, her behaviors were still my major concern. Her IQ was 59 and her language was minimal. My husband and I finally found quality professionals and, with their support, we became Robin’s case managers. From there, Robin began the slow process of becoming a part of our family and her community.
Today, at thirty-nine years old, Robin has been employed for fifteen years, driving for ten years, and living in her own condo for nine years. Yes, she has friends!
All individuals on the autism spectrum need the same opportunities as Robin, including classic autism. Hence, I wrote a book, Autism-Believe in the Future: From Infancy to Independence, to share HOW Robin did it and HOW our family accepted the challenge. For more information go to www.autism-believe-future.com.
Ann Millan

Ann Millan of FL 11:19PM September 19, 2010

Related to these findings, see www.childrenspsychological.org for encouraging cognitive results of treating ASD and other special needs preschoolers by means of an interpersonal method called in-classroom Reflective Network Therapy.

Gilbert Kliman MD of CA 5:59PM September 19, 2010

My kids (one ASD, one non-ASD) follow the articles indication abour attention to detail. My younger son (4yrs, non ASD) is improving in concentration on smaller details in pictures, action, playing etc... While my ASD kid (5yr old)fixates on patterns to distractions in most areas without change. The dfference, my non ASD son can 'take it or leave it', while my ASD son has to have an exit point in some manner. I have noticed my ASD kid is slowly reducing stimming with objects and analysing them while playing. So their are developmental changes.
www.parentingasdkids.com

Steve 7:12PM September 18, 2010

I agree that we should expect grat things and set high expectations. The kids will always surprise us!
S.B. Linton
Owner, AutismClassroom.com
wwww.autismclassroom.com/home

S.B. Linton of MD 11:45PM September 17, 2010

Development continues in autistic people, just as it does in non-autistic people. What you see and experience with an autistic child at one age may be quite different later on down the road. It's often developmental *delay*, not developmental stasis, as I just noted today regarding the story of Donald Triplett, the first person diagnosed with autism (although not the first with autism).
http://daisymayfattypants.blogspot.com/2010/09/donald-triplett-what-his-story-might.html

Emily Willingham of TX 4:14PM September 17, 2010